It was a good era for all weight classes , heavywights included.Televised fights had not yet put all the small fight clubs out of business, the gyms were full of prospects, and there were oppertunities for fighters who wanted to fight often. As the 50's melded into the 60's the heavyweight division had Floyd Patterson ,Ingamar Johannsen,Sonny Liston, Eddie Machen,Zora Foley,Ernie Terrell, George Chuvalo, Cleveland Williams, and a new face, the Olympic Gold medalist, Cassius Clay.By 1965, Joe Frazier, Jerry Quarry, Oscar Bonavena and Jimmy Ellis were on the rise.Before the decade was out, George Foreman had turned pro. This was a pretty impressive line up, especially when you compare it with the line up of today.Somebody like Shannon Briggs would have been lucky to been considered little more than a club fighter, much less a belt holder.All of these Russians of today would have been blasted into oblivion with little fanfare.And James Toney would have dieted like a runway model, knowing full well he wouldn't have a snowballs chance in Hades to win a heavyweight title.
